“A temporary committee . . . can be appointed to hire a small number of (ERT) employees, so that the broadcast of information programs can begin immediately,” Samaras said in a statement.

Pressure has steadily grown on Samaras to reverse his decision, with his coalition allies digging in their heels and the European Broadcasting Union holding emergency meetings in Athens to demand ERT’s reopening. For the first time since Tuesday’s shock decision, criticism also emerged from inside Samaras’ conservative party on Friday. ERT employees and journalists meanwhile were protesting for the fourth day since the decision.